this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2024
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I really couldn't justify buying new books. Once you read it what do you do with it? Secondhand books are very cheap because books don't hold value (except for rare books). Libraries do exist and provide books for free, and you can order books if they don't have them in your local library, but waiting times for new releases can be months.
Ebooks are my favorite, but i have even less reason to buy ebooks (on Amazon) as they can't be resold or even gifted. Unless it costs €1 or €2, but these cheap books aren't great.
Some subscription service, like Netflix would be perfect for me if it had all the books. Kindle Unlimited is good, but selection of available titles is very limited.
You can probably get lots of ebooks with your library card, for free.
I haven't considered this. I'm pretty sure my library has ebooks, but it's not compatible with my Kindle, and i wouldn't want to read them any other way.
Lots of libraries use the Libby app to reserve and “borrow” ebooks, and it does indeed give them to your kindle library for the loan period. Your specific system may be different, but I’d check it out.
I also highly recommend libby, which lets you check out ebooks and audiobooks from your library. I don't have a kindle myself, but this help article says it's supported "Reading Kindle Books on a Kindle ereader"
You can also add multiple library cards, so if you wanted to go crazy you can find libraries that let you sign up for a card even if you don't have a local address and get access to both library's collections to read on your Kindle
Libby is 100% compatible with kindle, has been for years. It's the first prompt immediately after you check out the book; it asks if you want to read it in Libby, or have it sent to your kindle. I'd definitely recommend it, it couldn't be more seamless.
Only in one country, and I don't happen to live in it.
Considering the actual post here, plus just decent manners, if you like a book, and you’re able, it’s worth considering supporting the author of said book.
That being said, you should seriously consider going to your search engine of choice and searching for an archive by a person named Anna: Anna’s Archive if you will. You might find something helpful and interesting.
I wish more authors accepted donations. I read a ton of books from my library, and I'm happy to give them some money every now and then, but I don't really want to have the actual book. Publishers take so much of they money, that I often just end up not bothering.
I agree wholeheartedly. Maybe there’s an alternative funding model for authors, and artists generally, that could be imagined and built. I’d be surprised if there’s not already some great ideas floating out there; but if there are, I don’t know them.
The value in the printed word is that it can’t be easily modified. The knowledge and ideas are preserved in a sense, as long as it remains intact. On the internet things can be changed after the fact easily, and it’s much harder to verify what was changed later. Living in the age of misinformation has given me new reason to hang on to my books and even old dvds and cds etc. I recognize what you’re saying too - if you’re just reading for entertainment and moving on it makes sense to pay a minimum and move on when you’re done. I just also find myself clutching to 1984 where it describes making the changes I’m talking about, and holding on to Fahrenheit 451 as it begins to look like book banning and eventually burning is on the rise.
Edit: Ive even changed this comment. It was just spelling.
You're right, but I only read fiction so i don't care if a book was updated. Corrections are expected.
For everything else, the internet archive does a good job of archiving internet contents.
I believe the internet archive is under threat as well, some kind of copyright protection thing.
I suppose I worry about the fiction too because sometimes it’s a commentary on real life concerns, and the pearl clutchers will want to erase perceived insults. Anyway, to each their own. I need to be selective about what I keep because there just isn’t enough space to save them all. Digital certainly has the advantage there.
Overdrive/Libby is exactly that. Generally, you can get it for free if you have a decent library.
Support your local library.
I buy a ton of books - for other people.
I love buying books. I love books in general. And I prefer a physical copy. Sure, I've read e-books, listened to audiobooks, but nothing beats having a physical book in my hands. I don't care about second hand value because I will either keep it or give it away.
Btw, your ideal subscription model is literally a library.
I love physical books as well, I just don't like storing them. So yeah, libraries rock.
Exactly. And most libraries won't take them as donations, and if they do, they'll probably just toss it if it doesn't sell on their $1 bin.
I still buy books, I just wish there was a more efficient way of rewarding the author. For that $10 book, I'm guessing the author gets $1-2, so why don't we just split the different and give me the e-book for $4-5?
Why should books have good resale value? You don't resell a movie ticket after going to the cinema, you don't resell your vacation. Not everything has to have a monetary value.
Because a book can be read again, provide virtually the same value to the next person. If you try to resell a movie ticket or vacation it won't work, because ticket is access to a one time experience.